THE victim of a brutal bottle attack has welcomed the jail sentence handed to the thug who assaulted him and said he hopes prison will make his attacker a better man.

Jonathan Ashman, 22, of the Cottages, Cartridge Farm, Lacock, was sentenced to four and a half years in jail on Monday for smashing a bottle into the head of Tom Beardsell, 27, in Park Lane, Chippenham, on April 28.

In a previous hearing Ashman pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and common assault for throwing Mr Beardsell's girlfriend Stacey Lane to the ground when she tried to stop his attack.

Speaking to the Chippenham News, Mr Beardsell, who was at the hearing in Swindon Crown Court with Miss Lane, said: "We are very happy with the result although at the end of the day he has gone to prison which is never good news.

"The idea of going to prison isn't about being locked in a cell but being rehabilitated and turning them into a better person. I hope prison does the job for him.

"He was very upset in court. He couldn't really look at us and the defence said he couldn't face what he'd done."

Mr Beardsell admitted the attack, which left him needing 100 stitches to his head, plastic surgery on his cheek and a broken foot, had devastated the couple.

"It's had an awful effect on me in all kinds of ways, physically, mentally and emotionally. It knocked me for six. It's affected my career and the progression of my old life," he said. "I'm scarred for life just as Stacey is. But I do sympathise with him and I'd not want to see him suffer. There is no point in wishing him ill. We've all got our sentence."

The court heard on Monday how the couple had been on their way home after a night out when they asked Ashman to stop pushing a wheelie bin around.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said: "There was no aggression shown by them and a perfectly reasonable thing done in a perfectly polite and proper manner."

Ashman then attacked Mr Beardsall with the bottle and began kicking him, leaving him with blood gushing from his face.

Jonathan Simpson, defending, said Ashman had been very drunk on the night of the attack, had felt threatened and acted out of character. But Judge Tom Longbotham said: "This is another case where a young man finds himself in the dock for a very serious offence because he is in the words of the probation officer fuelled by alcohol.' That is no excuse at all. Indeed, it makes a bad situation even worse."

He commended Miss Lane's courage and said to Ashman: "In my judgement Mr Beardsell and Miss Lane behaved entirely properly and it was only you who decided there was some reason for taking offence."

Mr Beardsell said he was grateful for the judge's comments. "He certainly believed Ashman's behaviour wasn't acceptable and most people would agree. He thought Stacey was brave and courageous, which I'd agree with completely."